The need was so acute at this time that the insular government and various Federal agricultural agencies concentrated their efforts on supplying these lacking products. However, because of the fact that these agencies had to produce through private growers, with attendent delays and other limitations, it was necessary for the Work Projects Administration to engage in direct production of foodstuffs to fill the need.

Today this project employs 9,086 men who work in the preparation and cultivation of approximately 10,000 acres of land. During April 1,000,000 pounds of vegetables were produced, and it is estimated that in the future an average of 1,500,000 pounds will be produced, which will enable this activity to supply the entire need of the school lunch units with root and truck crops. This project operates also 7 canning centers with a total output of 2,000 quarts per month which enable products to be held over nonproductive season. Aside from the actual contribution of this project to the school lunchrooms, which has represented approximately 40 percent of all the vegetables used, it is at present the only source of vegetables in the amounts required.

COMMODITY DISTRIBUTION PHASE-WP 297

The commodity distribution phase of the feeding program is operated for the purpose of fulfilling a long-felt need among needy persons and institutions in Puerto Rico resulting from unemployment and low rates among the working classes, as well as limited financial resources of institutions and other agencies entrusted directly or indirectly with the feeding of the poor. To this should be added the fact that high prices and limitation of available commodities brought about by the war has aggravated the situation considerably.

The result has been that the already meager diet among the poor was rationed even further, to such a point that the average diet among these people falls far below being well balanced. We e can realize the seriousness of the situation when we consider that nearly 200,000 families, representing about half of the island's population, fall within the needy category and, furthermore, that there is no organized plan for direct relief in the island.

To cope with the situation the Work Projects Administration has been operating for a number of years this commodity distribution phase for the purpose of distributing free commodities among needy persons and institutions to supplement their diet, and in many cases to provide their only foodstuffs. In this way the project has helped considerably in developing proper diet habits and in partly providing some relief to the poor.

Commodities donated by the Food Distribution Administration are deposited in five large warehouses, from which thev are transported to 146 commissaries scattered throughout the island where they are distributed to certified needy cases and institutions. A total of 1,300 persons are employed on this project. During April a total of 2,832,057 pounds of commodities with a fair market value of $376,803 were distributed to the following: (a) 110,395 certified families representing a total of 611,853 needy persons, (b) 1,532 school lunchrooms with 166,729 inmates, (c) 12 camps and recreational centers with 994 children, and (d) 1 housekeeping aid center; in all, the project served 781,628 persons. Commodities distributed consisted mainly of canned and dry milk, dehydrated eggs, cereals, canned vegetables, fat backs, and lard.

Due to curtailment of shipping facilities on account of the war the amounts of commodities distributed at present shows a marked decrease. This fact is evident when we compare distribution for April 1943 with that of August 1941, when 6,672,957 pounds of commodities consisting of beans, cornmeal, dried and evaporated milk, wheat and graham flour, lard, potatoes, prunes, raisins, and cereals, were distributed to 209,658 cases representing 1,185,896 persons.

As soon as shipping restrictions are removed and more commodities are avail able and, furthermore, due to the ever increasing unemployment in Puerto Rico, activities of this project will increase considerably.

EXHIBIT No. 131

Reference was made on page 1090 in the testimony of Mr. Rafael De J. Cordero to the following statistics prepared in April 1943 which indicate the financial condition of the state insurance fund:

State insurance fund of Puerto Rico, division of accounts and payments-Comparative table of premium revenue and expenses paid for the first semester of policy years 1939-43, Dec. 31, 1942

PREMIUM REVENUE (TO DEC. 31 OF EACH YEAR)

211, 119. 35

NUMBER OF CLAIMS REGISTERED (TO DEC. 31 OF EACH YEAR)

Number of Percentage

of increase

Reference was made on page 1090 in the testimony of Mr. Rafael De J. Cordero to the following comparative table of premium revenue and expenses paid for the first 11 months of policy years, 1939-43 (as of May 31, 1943), state insurance fund of Puerto Rico: